Robert W. Loveless, True Legend

[Steve]

Bob Loveless passed away this morning at 11:30 a.m., peacefully, according to Jim Merritt, at home in Riverside, California. He had been quite ill for a few months and things were not getting better. He is now at rest, if he will rest, even where he is now, and out of pain. I need not relate what Bob means to me and how he affected my life and my thinking regarding knives. He treated me like a son, which says it all, regarding our relationship when I was working with him. I do what I do because of him, certainly not discounting the affect of Gil Hibben and Harvey Draper, Rod Chappel, Buster Warenski and A.G. Russell. All were of great influence on me, but the Loveless Knife and the man, Bob Loveless, set me on the path that I still follow, at least as far as knife designs go. I'm basically a "Loveless-style" knifemaker.

Rarely do we meet someone who lived his life as he desired, doing whatever he wanted and accomplishing as much as Bob did. He will forever be the one we speak of when we talk of the modern "Benchmade" knife. Not many have had a greater influence on the handmade, and even factory knife industry. I don't mean to take away anything from Bo Randall, Scagel, Morseth, Ruana, Buck and many others, but the word "Loveless" means what it means and no one can dispute that. A great man, a great mind, a good man, a man with whom it was certainly an honor to work beside. I'm sure that will become even more of an honor, as time goes by and as I consider what a blessing that time was for me. Jim Merrit said that Bob passed peaceably, for which I am thankful. Thank you, Mr. Loveless! My prayers and love go out to his daughters and families and his wife, Yoshi.
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